St. Paul daily globe., 1887-08-21
Sc SISTER" WAS A MAN.
The Quarrels of an Aged Couple
Unearths a Scandal.
A Mob Give a Couple Twenty-four
Hours to Leave Town.

James and Sarah Hill are familiarly
known in the lower end of Newark, n.
j., as ''Jim and Sal.n Jim was at one
time constable, but he got to drinking
SO that his warrant was taken from him
and for several years past he has earned
a scanty living by doing odd jobs.
''Jim and Sal" lived in three scantily
furnished rooms on the top floor of
house near the Pennsylvania Railroad
company's coal dumps. The lower
floor of the house was occupied by a
widow, and with her for years had lived
a woman whom the widow said
was her maiden sister. The latter was
apparently thirty-fve years of age,
not remarkably good looking brunette,
and had about her one noticeable fea-
ture-her hands and feet were of more
masculine proportions than is usual
in one of her sex.
Jim and Sal quarreled lately and
jealousy was the cause of it, though
both of them are old enough to be think
ing of the next world instead of this.
jim has got into the habit lately of going
''down the street for some cold water'
every evening. A few evenings since
Sal saw him talking to the landlady's
sister at a gate near where he got the
we'll water. She watched him and saw
the same performance each evening.
Then she accused him of going to see
the girl instead of going for ''wel
water"
Jim denied this, but Sal made it so hot
for him one day that he locked the door
of their rooms while she was inside and
went uptown with the key in his pocket.
The wife discovered his game few
ho l.,1 <,r,d
ceeded in getting through window into
the hall. She followed him down town
and demanded the key, at the same time
denOuncing him in pretty strong Ian
guage. Jim suddenly turned on her in
Marshall street and handing her the key
said:
"Now, 60 back and live in the house
with the widow and her old maid sister,
who amt nothing more nor less than
man."
''Sal'' went home, and on the way met
several persons to whom she told what
Jim had said about the widow Rams
ford. Next she openly accused the
widow of harbOring a man disguised as
woman. The widow Indignantly de-
MED the story.
Meanwhile the neighbors had been
comparing notes. Some one remem-
-bered having seen man visit the house
frequently, but no one could remember
having seen his coming away. The
matter was thoroughly discussed, and it
was finally planned that the house
should be watched. This was done, and
about 10 o'clock in the morning we'll
dressed man called at the widows. AS
he did not leave by 2 O'Clock in the
afternoon it was planned that neigh
Dor should call on the widow.
Mrs. Williams was appointed COM
mittee of one to perform this duty, She
was well received by the widow, but
found no man there, and only the ''Old
maid sister" beside the widow. Mrs.
Williams then invited the widow to go
uptown with her. The invitation was
accepted, and after great deal of per-
suaSion the "old maid" was induced to
accompany them.
This was by previous arrangement,
and as soon as the trio left the house
several neighborS who had been watch
ing gained an entrance and made
search of the widows apartments.
Between the mattresses of the one
bed they found a complete suit of male
settled, and taking the clothes the in
quisitive neighbOrs left the place.
Widow RanSford and the ''Old maid''
returned with Mrs. Williams in the
early evening. The neighbors were on
hand to meet them, and after some pre-.
liminary talk produced the suit of
clothes and accused the widow Of hav
ing a man for an .'old maid'' sister.
The widow almost tainted, but she de-
MED nothing. They were given twenty
four hours in which to leave the city, 1
under threat of arrest should they fail
to comply. By midnight Mrs. Ransford
and the man were the most talked-of \
people in the lower part of the city,
and the reputation of Mrs. Ransford,
who had heretofore been looked upon
as a model woman, was blasted forever.